Live Review

FOALS

@ HUU Asylum, Hull

As a venue, Asylum has played host in the past to a great number of popular and influential artists. Just last year the likes of Biffy Clyro, the Reverend and Frank Turner graced the stage to entertain hoards of adoring fans, to further cement, as all good bands should do, their live reputations.
Now to Foals. This band immediately disadvantaged themselves by polling exactly who was present. “Freshers?” A large cheer. “Anyone else? Returning students, perhaps?” Myself and a clutch of loyal gig-goers dutifully, but not entirely ecstatically, voiced approval. I feel Foals would have been better advised to enquire after the number of adolescent girls present, as this is surely where their largest fan base lies. The young ‘hoards’ present on this particular evening appeared out of nowhere at one specific period of the gig, and placed pressure on Foals’ longevity and perceived image. This was gathered through an over indulgent introduction, which lasted around seven minutes, and sounded like a jamming session mixed with the chorus of Cassius, undoubtedly the band’s best known tune. Indeed, it is fair to say that Cassius is the reason Foals are popular, and they performed this particular single with aplomb, pouncing through the chorus at a speed reminiscent of Golden Skans or Club Foot at a major festival. It was at this point that my weary chums and I were mobbed by twenty 15-ish year olds. This gang came out of nowhere, bobbed along during the verses and then sang the chorus loudly. As suddenly as they had appeared however, they vanished, not even staying to experience Hummer, my personal favourite Foals song, which again was performed with bubbly passion and crowd-pleasing energy.
There is no doubt that Foals ticked every box they needed to. They were entertaining, slick, energetic and involved the crowd. Nothing more could be asked of a band so sweetly nursed by the NME, yet because of this it is difficult to see how Foals will be able to change musically to ensure their second album contains more versatile and diverse sounding anthems than Antidotes. This is a compliment, because there is a distinct whiff of potential in Foals’ sound. Unlike bands such as Scouting For Girls, it seems Yannis and co wish to break out and write songs with meaning, rather than being content to entertain. Perhaps then I will be proven wrong. I hope that Foals write a Favourite Worst Nightmare, rather than an Emergency, but even if they struggle I would suggest they be remembered for being an impressively confident live band.

Alex Johnston
(Photos by Jonno Witts)

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ENTER SHIKARI

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The Charlatans

@ HUU Asylum, Hull
5th October 2008

I arrived at Asylum seeing it half empty, giving the impression that the old interest that once surrounded this band had slowly ebbed away into the vaults of musical history. However, as the clock ticked down
and the time came for The Charlatans to grace the stage Asylum suddenly burst into life. From nowhere an audience of chanting fans, all in their Charlatans/Oasis-clad outfits and 90s-style haircuts burst onto the floor eagerly awaiting the coming performance. I was expecting big things from a band that had made their break at the same time as Oasis, but things started off a little slow. Not once did I find myself tapping my foot or nodding my head. Instead I was lured into the charismatic on-stage performance of frontman Tim
Burgess and his peculiar wielding of his microphone as though it were a light sabre.
Although initially the atmosphere seemed somewhat tired, Burgess began stirring the crowd, thrusting his hand into the air in that typical Manc “I don’t give a f**k” kinda way.
As their set progressed and livened up the atmosphere gradually developed into a crescendo of jumping fans, and old school tunes like The Only One I Know couldn’t fail to get everyone in the room dancing,
shouting and singing along. It was certainly a real spectacle observing a crowd full of middle-aged blokes from Hull dancing in what could only be described as a Bez-like trance. All in all the gig was superb and
The Charlatans proved that they still have what it takes to pick an audience up, throw it around the room a few times and leave them wanting more.

Phil Eddleston

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